Kygyzstan minorities

By Resul Yalcin, on CenAsia list, 28 October 1997

In southern Kyrgyzstan, the Uzbeks farm the fertile land. Clashes and
atrocities, which occurred in June 1990, between kyrgyz and Uzbeks in
the fertile Osh valley which claimed about 320 lives, mostly Uzbeks,
were over land rights. Although no fighting has occurred since 1991,
some bad feeling still remains. President Akayev has guaranteed the
safety of Uzbeks living in his country. Uzbek authorities have
maintained strict control over the border dividing the
countries. Equally Islam Karimov has guaranteed the safety of all
Krgyzy (about 400 000) in Uzbekistan. Uzbek leadership, has so far
being rather cautious for the Uzbeks in Hojand.

The Krgyzy officials although initially blamed criminal elements for
the disturbances, pointing out that the houses of Krgyzys had also
been burned down and that Krgyzy youths refusing to join the rioters
had themselves been killed, the critics however, would argue that they
were the work of Kyrgyzi nationalism.

The same view (in this case the work of Uzbek nationalism) also
remains valid for the unrest in the Fergana valley between Uzbeks and
Meskhetian Turks in 1989 where more than 100 Meskhetian Turks lost
their lives. The Uzbek authorities expressed almost the same reason
for these riots.

In Kyrgyzstan, minority issues involve the Russian and German
minorities in the north and the Uzbek, Tajik and Uighur minorities in
the south. In general relations between different ethnic groups are
now harmonious, yet we need to be cautious, as there has always been
"Radovan Karadzices" throughout the history of human beings
who are thirsty to human blood.